
           Avd. March 16th

Oriskany March 11th 1842.

My Dear Friend

I received your letter dated 5th Inst.
last evening it came from the West consequently must 
have been carried by this place I do not know how far
Westward.

I shall set about it in all haste to settle
up as much of my business as possible and prepare for
the pines.

It will be very inconvenient to carry much
with me at the present since the Rail Road Co. between
Utica and Schenectady are not allowed to carry freight.

I shall carry my books and a few [?] and other
necessaries in a couple of large trunks. These I will probably
be able to get through but not more.

I wish you would tell me immediately whether you
wish me still to send the sections of wood I have collected
for you and if so please to inform me to what place
they are to be directed. I examined the Geological Reports
but did not find the agent's [added: name] to whom they
are to be sent.

I have a number [added: of sections] and several more
near at hand.

You requested me I believe to send
you some {Ludnrgia?]; I think I told you it did
not grow here; not aware that it was identical with
Isnardia palustris, which is abundant enough in this 
place. and I can supply you with any quantity.

Just at present there is considerable sickness in
this place, consisting mostly of inflammatory diseases
of various forms. Diseases of the Lungs, Pleuresy, [?]
& chronic Rheumatism etc. are the most prevalent.

The man with a wound of the hand & forearm 
occasioned by the discharge of a fowling piece is getting
along finely, with the exception of an extensive eruption
over the place the arms and various parts of the body
occasioned by coming in contact with the Rhus
venenata Linn. which grows abundantly here and often 
produces a very troublesome form of disease but which
I have never before failed to subdue in the course of
a week or ten days, yet I hope it will not seriously
impede the curative process of the wounded arm.

My family is justly well at present, yet my eldest 
daughter (Charlotte) is not very rugged.

Believe me truly yours

P. D. Knieskern.
        